Twitter

Great start to this academic year, with students understanding the importance of Literacy and Reading. Taking books out of the school library on the very first day! Well done to Betty, Courtney and Matthew. https://t.co/tINws7GayB

Well done to new Year7 student Phoebe, who took part in the Summer Reading Challenge set by the School Librarian on Induction day. Could students please notify the School Librarian, if they also took part this year. Thank you https://t.co/52GSmqZrtg

Harris Academy Rainham will be holding an Open Evening for the September 2020 intake on Tuesday 1st October from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. Principal's presentations at 6pm, 6.45pm and 7.30pm. All Welcome! https://t.co/TAm3PyFMY7

We are looking forward to the return of all our students and meeting all our new Year 7 students. Arrangements are:-
Friday 6th September 2019
Year 7 and Year 11 only. Arrive at 8.50am for a 9am start
Monday 9th September 2019
All Year Groups in Learning Guides for 8.55am

Safeguarding

This page is designed to be a source of information about safeguarding for the community, parents and students alike, to help inform and educate everyone in our school community.

On this page you'll find a list of our designated safeguarding officers as well as information about E-safety and our Safer Schools Partnership. Our Child Safeguarding Policy can be downloaded at the bottom on this page.

Harris Academy Rainham is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for children, staff and visitors and promoting a climate where children and adults will feel confident about sharing any concerns they may have about their own safety or the well-being of others.

The academy is committed to supporting governors and staff so that together we can make safeguarding children a priority. We aim to ensure that child protection concerns and referrals are handled sensitively, professionally and in ways that support the specific needs of the individual child.

Through providing a caring, safe and stimulating environment which promotes the social, physical and moral development of all our students, we aim to foster an atmosphere of trust, respect and security.

Safeguarding poster

The safeguarding poster pictured below is displayed in every classroom and key places around the academy. This is to ensure that every stakeholder connected to the academy can approach key staff (and any member of staff) to share any safeguarding concerns. Our staff also have out of hours safeguarding cards on which are contact details of the senior safeguarding team and external agencies. This is for use if issues come to light outside of normal school hours.

Our vision

Our vision is clear and has safeguarding at its heart. We hold with three values: BELONG, BELIEVE and BECOME.

In our academy we create an environment where all BELONG and are cared for. We value every individual and care for each other because of who we are. The unconditional positive regard we extend to each other provides a community where all can be safe and secure, and everyone can discover more about who they truly are.

We BELIEVE that everyone can succeed and achieve their potential regardless of any personal characteristics. We BELIEVE that background does NOT determine outcomes.

We strive for our students to leave our academy with the characteristics, qualifications and humanity that will enable them to BECOME whatever they desire. For us, education is the vehicle to a better life.

The academy philosophy, vision and expectation on safeguarding is very clear. Every person connected with the academy has a personal responsibility for the highest standards of safeguarding of our students. It doesn’t matter how you are connected to the academy, as part of our community we all have a responsibility for safeguarding our students. The following groups all have equal responsibility for ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding:

1. All academy staff

2. All academy students

3. All academy parents/carers

4. All external agencies that engage with the academy and young people

5. All members of our local community

Harris Academy Rainham and the Prevent Duty

The academy has a designated, accredited Prevent Duty Lead. The Prevent duty has two specific strategic objectives to safeguard our students against radicalisation, extremism and any actions or beliefs that are contrary to British Values and our academy ethos.

1. Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it.

2. Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support.

Harris Academy Rainham opposes all form of extremism. We define ‘extremism’ as vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

Harris Academy Rainham and “Channel”

The academy will work closely with the counter-terrorism referral programme “Channel”. Channel is a multi-agency approach to identify and provide support to individuals who are at risk of being drawn into terrorism. The programme protects vulnerable people by:

identifying individuals at risk

assessing the nature and extent of that risk

developing the most appropriate support plan for the individuals concerned.

Harris Academy Rainham safeguarding team 2018-19

At Harris Academy Rainham we have designated child protection/Prevent duty lead and safeguarding officers who you can contact if you have any questions or concerns relating to either child protection or safeguarding.

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is Lisa Kennedy. She can be contacted on 01708 431653 or LADO@havering.gov.uk.

Visiting speakers to the academy

Harris Academy Rainham benefits from the expertise of a wide range of guest speakers, lecturers, authors and visitors to enrich and augment the curriculum and learning opportunities of our students.

However, the safeguarding of our students is at the forefront of everything we do. To ensure that guests' and visitors’ information is in line with our own values and ethos the academy completes a rigorous process of checks. By completing these checks, the academy is confident that we are protecting our students from extremist views such as radicalisation and homophobia while enjoying the wide benefits of external speakers. All visitors to the academy are expected to follow the Visitors' Code of Conduct.

Radicalisation and extremism

ParentInfo

ParentInfo is a regularly updated feed of expert information, advice and sources of support for parents on a whole range of parenting themes - the emphasis being on helping parents and carers develop their children's resilience to the risks and pressures they face in today's world. View the ParentInfo page.

Online safety

The online world is a wonderful place for young people to explore, with unprecedented opportunities for learning and creativity. But just like the real world there are risks and dangers they should be aware of, and which we can act to protect them from. Although the academy teaches students e-safety as part of the curriculum, it is vital that parents are aware of the risks too, and what they can do to develop a culture of e-safety in the home.

Below you will find some helpful resources for parents that will enable you to help your child stay safe online. If you have any concerns about your child's e-safety, there is always someone at the academy who is available to talk to you. Simply call the school and ask for our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) – Ms U Divakaran u.divakaran@harrisrainham.org.uk or speak to any member of staff. Our e-safety policy can be found below.

Think You Know

The Think You Know website is created by the police for parents of children at secondary school. It contains useful information about:

what children are doing online

how to talk to children about what they are doing online

what risks your child might face

what tools are there to help them stay safe.

Think You Know have also produced a Parents Guide to E-Safety and also the following booklets to provide parents/carers with helpful information on how to explore and monitor their children’s apps.

The term ‘sexting’ describes the use of technology to share intimate images of yourself. It’s a word-mix of sex and texting. The content can vary, from text messages to images of partial nudity to sexual images or videos. For more information and guidance for parents and children visit the Childnet website. You might also like to watch this short film produced by the national crime agency CEOP.

What is a 'money mule'?

More young people across the UK are being approached by criminals who want to use their bank accounts or pin numbers for criminal purposes. This is called being a ‘money mule’. A ‘mule account’ is used to hide money that comes from illegal activities. The young person may be asked to transfer money, allow access to their account or open up a new one. Sometimes criminals will try and force young people to become mules or they might offer financial incentives such as cash or mobile phone credit.

We need your support to help educate young people around this issue. Has your child been approached or asked for their bank account to be used? Check any bank statements. Is there money going in and out that cannot be accounted for? Ask questions if you are unsure about anything.

Bank accounts are private and must only be used by the account holder. Any misuse could not only be criminal but could cause serious credit issues for the account holder. Police are working in partnership with many schools across London to combat this issue. If you have any concerns, speak to your Safer Schools Police Officer (see below) and/or Action Fraud (www.actionfraud.police.uk) on 0300 123 2040.

Drugs networks ('County lines')

The National Crime Agency, the UK body charged with fighting organised crime, is very concerned that crime gangs are taking over drug networks using telephone hotlines (called 'county lines) and recruiting vulnerable people, often children, to act as couriers and to sell drugs. Download an information sheet about 'county lines' and 'cuckooing' - the practice whereby professional drug dealers take over the property of a vulnerable person and use it as a place from which to run their drugs business.

Safer Schools Partnership

PC Drew Heath is our Safer Schools Police Officer. There are now over 450 Safer School Partnerships operating throughout England and Wales, with police officers and community support officers based in schools to work closely with staff and students.

PC Heath is a familiar, trusted face around the school, working closely with students on issues that affect their lives both inside and outside of the academy. He can be contacted by email at Drew.R.Heath@met.pnn.police.uk or by calling 07909 960386.